Roll stoppage means for wringers



May 7, 1957 D.l F. FAIRGRIE'VE ROLL STOPPAGE MEANS FOR WRINGERS 5Sheets-Sheet l lLi Filed March 2l, 1955 "EN QLUk u.

INVENTOR DONALD E FAlRGmEvE May 7, 1957 D. F. FAIRGRIEVE ROLL. STOPPAGEZMEANS FOR WRINGERS 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 2l, 1955 INVENTOB DONALDE FAlRGRlEvVE May 7, 1957 D.` F. FAIRGRIEVE Rom. sToPPAGE MEANS FORWRINGERS 5 sheets-sheet s Filed March 21, 1955 I N V E NT U R DONALD EFAIRGRIEVE ROLL STOPPAGE MEANS FOR WRINGERS Donald F. Fargrieve,Toronto, Ontario, Canada, as-

signor to Fairgrieve & Son, Limited, Toronto, Ontario, CanadaApplication March Z1, 1955, Serial No. 495,478

8 Claims. (Cl. 68-253) This invention relates to improvements in washingmachines of the pressure roll wringer type, and more particularly to asafety mechanism for controlling the drive to the wringer rolls.

The wringer of `a conventional Washing machine has long been recognizedas a serious hazard to the operator unless great care is taken, thelingers and hands are likely to be pulled into the nip of the pressurerolls and many forms of Wringer releases have been devised whereby thetop bar can be released to relieve the pressure on the rolls.

Another serious source of *hazard is the fact that parts of theoperators clothing, such as a sash, full sleeve, tie or the like, mayalso be fed between the rolls and in the event that such clothingbecomes Wound on one of the rolls, the release of the roll pressure hasno effect and the material continues to be wound on the roll as the rollrotates endangering the operator or tearing the clothing unless theoperator has the presence of mind or is in a position to immediatelystop the roll drive.

It is the object of this invention to enable roll drive or feed to beautomatically stopped as an incident of effecting roll pressure release.

Many roll pressure releases are effected through what is commonlyreferred to as instinctive mechanisms Wherein the involuntary movementof the operator whose fingers, clothing, etc. are caught or nipped inthe rolls effects top bar and hence `roll pressure release. Other rollpressure releases :are effected through release handles, release bars,etc., which may be operated in one or more directions to effect rollpressure release.

Itis another important object of the invention to enable the roll driveto be automatically stopped on pressure release regardless of what typeof top bar pressure release mechanism is employed.

Still another important object is to enable roll drive stoppage to besimply 'and inexpensively effected'as aforesaid Without requiring anymodification or change of the conventional drive mechanism.

Again it is an object to provide a safety mechanism as afore said whichwill be concealed Within the top bar.

The principal feature of the invention resides in providing adeclutchingmechanism which is rendered inoperative on setting of the top bar in thelocked or roll pressure applying position :and which on release of thetop bar is rendered operative to actuate the roll drive clutch mechanismto stop roll -drive regardless of the direction of roll rotation. Moreparticularly according to the invention the declutchingmechanism acts toengage the roll drive clutch lever to return it to or hold it in theneutral position so that the wringer rolls cannot be driven until themechanism is rendered inoperative by the setting of the topV bar in rollpressure applying position at whichl time the clutch arm may be operatedin the conventional manner to drive the rolls in either direction.

Another important feature resides yin mounting the safety or declutohingmechanism within the top bar which conventionally is of channel shape sothat it is concealed.

,y a 2,794,115 Patented l7 1 ?57 More particularly according to thepreferred form of `the invention the clutch lever is mounted to swing ona vertical pivot from a central position substantially in alignment withthe top bar to roll drive lcoupling positions either side of the centralposition, and the actuating safety mechanism comprises a spring actuatedmember swingable or movable in a ydirection longitudinally of the topbar, the spring actuated member and lever being pro'- vided withinterengaging surfaces symmetrically disposed on opposite sides of thelever' pivot to effect movement of the lever to, and hold it at thecentral position irrespective as tovwhich side of the central positionthe lever was actuated, the spring actuated member being actuated by thetop bar when the latter is moved to the roll pressure applying positionto clear its lever engaging surfaces from lever-engagement.

rIhese and other objects and features will be understood from thefollowing detailed description taken in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary plan view of the upper end of a gear case of aWringer to which a roll stopping safety mechanism in accordance with theinvention has been applied, the top bar of the wringer being omitted.

Figure 2 is a part side elevational view part vertical sectional viewshowing the roll stopping mechanism of Figure 1 rendered inoperative bythe top bar.

Figure 3 is :a view similar to Figure 1 but showing the roll stoppingdevice operated to swing the clutch member to the neutral position.

Figure 4 is a view similar to Figure 2 but showing the top bar raisedand the roll stopping device actuated to roll stopping position.

Figure 5 is a perspective View, partly broken away, of a wiinger havingthe roll stoppage device of Figures l to 4 applied thereto.

Figure 6 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view showing therelation between the moving member of the roll stopping device and theclutch lever. i

Figure 7 is a plan View of the clutch lever and driving gears.

With reference first to Figure 5 the wringer illustrated comprises theusual side stiles 1 and Z carrying vertical channel guides 3 in whichare mounted wringer or pressure rolls 4 which may be journalled insuitable blocks 5 slidably mounted in the `channels 3. Applying pressureto the rolls 4 is the usual spring 6 seated on the blocks 5 and adjustedby a screw 7 operating through the top of a channel shaped top bar 8.

'Phe top bar 8 is pivotally connected at one end to a channel shapedbracket 9 mounted on top of a gear case 10 to which the side stile 1 isconnected.

Securing the opposite end of the top bar to the side stile 2 is a togglemechanism such as fully described in my United States Patent No.2,726,530 dated December 13, 1955, which permits the top bar to be drawndown to a pressure-applying or set position and when released, permitsthe top bar to swing upwardly,v releasing pressure on the rolls. Thistoggle comprises a lever 11 pivoted to the end of the top bar, and alinl(` i2 pivoted to the side stile at 13 and to the leverintermediately of its length by means of a pivot pin i4. Mounted on theside stile 2 is a latch hook 15 which is adapted to engage the'pivot pin14 of the toggle mechanism when the toggle'mechanism isactuated to bringthe top bar to the set position to maintain the toggle mechanism and topbar in the set position. i

A pivotal channel member lo disposed normally horizontally across theoutside of the side stile 2 and pivotally supported about 4a centrepivot 17 isadapted to be actuated `by the cranked'ends 18 of one or morepivotal to'p nar release bars 19 engaging in slots 20 in the ends of.thechannel member. The swinging of the release bars 19 in either anupward or a downward direction actuates thc channel member 16 to depressthe latch hook against the action of a ,spring121 to. eeet` release ofthe togglemechanism and release of: the top bar.

It will be understood that the top: bar, toggle mechanism and releasemechanism above described are.V simply representative of one type ofmechanism; for. accomplishing, theV top bar release by way ofillustrating the application of the invention,` and other Vtypes of topbar release and locking mechanisms may be employed as desired.

The drive for the rolls. 4 isl achieved from the drive shaft` 22 drivinga pinion 23 which engages a pair of gears` 24 loosely mounted on arolldrive shaft 25' on which is splined a clutch mechanism. 26 provided withclutchV teeth 27 to engage in suitable slots or recesses 28 within thegear case l() and the clutch mechanism is actuated by a lever 29 pivotedabout a vertical axis on a pin projection Sil projecting through the topof the gear case 10 and carrying an eccentric pin extension 31 operatingin a bore of a square cam 32 fitted into an annular groove 33 formedinthe periphery of the clutch mechanism 26. The disposition of the cam 32,eccentric pin 3i and pin 30 are such that with the lever'29 extending ina direction substantially in alignment with the top bar 8 the clutchmechanism 26 is disposed in a neutral position as illustrated in Figure5 uncoupling the roll drive shaft from engagement with either of thegears 24.

The lever 29 is located below the bracket 9 which is cut away towardsthe outside of the gear case to allow horizontal pivotalmovement of thelever either side of the aligned neutralposition of Figures 3 and 5.

Thelever 29 as best seen in Figure 6 is in the form of a at bar having areduced end 34 which is threaded to receive a knob 35 forming the leverhandle. The opposite end of the lever is turned upwardly to provide acurved upturned flange 36 which is symmetrical about the pivot pin andpresents stop or cam surfaces 37 disposed symmetrically on oppositesides of the pin 30 f to form a means of returning `the lever 29 to thecentral or neutral position as hereinafterV more fully explained.

Pivotally secured between the spaced walls 38 of the channel bracket 9substantially immediately above the pivot pin 30 is a channel member 39which swings on a horizontal axis extending transversely `of the top bar8. The channel member 39 is urged in a clockwise direction by a spring40 secured to the member and to a cross bar 41 carried by the bracket 9.The channel member 39 straddles the lever 29 extending equidistant onopposite sides of the pivot pin 30. With the lever 29 in the centralneutral position, the member 39 is adapted to engage both surfaces 37 tolocate the lever and maintain it in its neutral position. In the eventthat the lever 29 is operated to `either side of itscentral neutralposition to effect roll drive hrough the clutchmechanism 26, the member39 on swing under action of the spring 49 will engage one of the .edgesor surfaces 37 only at one side of the pivot pin 3G to rotate the leverback to the central or neutral position, whereupon it will then contactthe other surface 37, effectively stopping the lever in the centralposition.

A further triangular channel member 42-is pivotallp supported `at theuppermost pointof the bracketl9 at one apex and has its lower apexconnected to the channel member 39 by means of pivotal push arms 43,while located on the upper surface of the member 42 adjacent its upperapex is an upwardly projecting adjustable screw 44, which is adapted toengage the top of the channel shaped top bar 8.

With the top bar in the released position as illustrated in Figures 4and 5, the spring 40 acts to move the channel member 39 `on its pivot so`that the lower end of the member is swept longitudinally of the top barto the limit position, and the triangular member 42 is actuated by thepush arms 43 to swing its upper apex and the screw 44 mounted adjacentthereto, upwardly.

Upon setting of the top bar in the roll pressure applying position, asillustrated in Figure 2, the top bar through engagement with the screw44, depresses the channel member 42, and through the push arms 43 swingsthe channel member 39 in a counterclockwise direction about its pivotagainst the action of the spring to clear the channel member from thecamy or stop surfaces 37 of the lever 29, allowing the lever to be swungto either side of its central position, depending on which direction ofroll drive is desired. Thus with the top bar set in the pressureapplying position, the clutch lever 29 may be operated in theconventional manner to start and stop the rolls with the clutchmechanism functioning in the conventional manner. However, the instantthat the Ytop bar 8 is released by the release bars 19 or any othersuitable mechanism provided, the pressure on the triangular channelmember 42 is removed, and the spring 40 functions to swing the channelmember 39 in the clockwise direction, swinging the lever 29 to thecentral neutral position irrespective of the position which it formerlyj occupied immediately prior to top bar release to etiect roll` drivestoppage.

It will thus be seen that roll drive stoppage is automatically eifectedby the top bar release without any further movement on the part of theoperator, and any clothing, etc. caught in the rolls will automaticallybe `prevented from winding on the rolls by the simple expediency ofreleasing the top bar. However, when the top bar is in thc set position,the mechanism elfecting roll stoppage is rendered inoperative, and theclutch for controlling the roll drive can be actuated in theconventional manner.

While the stop surfaces 37 of the lever 29 are shown as comprising theend edges of the upturned lever flange 36,` it will be appreciated thatany symmetrical disposition of projections on the lever may be provided.

By. arranging the roll stoppage mechanism to lie within the channel ofthe top bar it is conveniently hidden from view and in no way increasesthe size or bulkiness of the wringer.

It will also be understood that various other changes in the details andarrangements of parts which have been herein described and illustratedin order to explain the nature of the invention may be made by thoseskilled in the art within the principle and scope of the invention, asset forth in the appended claims.

What I claim as my invention is:

l. In a wringer having side stiles, wringer rolls mounted in said sideStiles, a reversing drive for said rolls including a clutchmechanism forcoupling said rolls to said drive, an inverted channel. shaped top barbridging said stilcs and movable from a position applying pressure onsaid rolls through a stiff springmember to a position releasing saidrolls from pressure, means for retaining said top bar in pressureapplying position, and means for releasing said top bar from saidpressure applying position, said clutch mechanism including a `leverpivotally supported on a vertical pivot beneath said top bar adjacentone end thereof to swing from a central neutral position substantiallyin alignment with said top bar to a position on each Y,side 4vof saidcentral position to couple said rolls to saidy drive on one side ofsaidcentral position for one direction of rotatiomand on4 the other side of`said central position for the opposite direction of rotation, saidlever being formed with upwardly projecting surfaces symmetricallydisposed on opposite sides of said pivot, means disposed beneath saidtop bar to move longitudinally thereof and engage one or the other ofsaid projecting surfaces with said lever swung away from said centralneutral position and to swing said lever to said central position,whereupon both said surfaces are engaged to locate said lever in saidneutral position, spring means acting on said lever surface engagingmeans to actuate said lever to said cental position, and means actuatedby said top bar when said top bar is in said roll pressure applyingposition to displace said lever surface engaging means out of engagementwith said lever surfaces.

2. A device as claimed in claim 1 in which a support frame is disposedwithin the channel of said top bar and said lever surface engaging meanscomprises a channel member pivotally supported on said frame on ahorizontal pivot extending transversely of said top bar and disposedapproximately immediately above the pivot of said lever, said channelmember extending substantially symmetrically on opposite sides of saidlever pivot.

3. A device as claimed in claim 2 in which said means actuated by saidtop bar comprises a control member pivoted to said frame, link meansconnecting said latter member to said pivotal channel member, saidcontrol member being disposed to swing under action of said spring meansacting on said channel member to a position projecting above said frameinto the path of said top bar when the latter is moved to said rollpressure applying position thereupon to be actuated by said top bar todisplace said channel member clear of said lever surface projections.

4. A device as claimed in claim 3 in which said control member isprovided with an adjustable upward projecting member engageable withsaid top bar.

5. ln a wringer having side stiles, rolls mounted in said side stiles, adrive for said rolls including oppositely rotating drive members, aclutch mechanism interposed between said drive and said rolls andoperable from a neutral position in which said drive is uncoupled fromsaid rolls to positions coupling said rolls to one or other of saidoppositely rotating drive members, a lever for actuating said clutchmechanism comprising a horizontal member pivotally supported to swingabout a vertical axis at the upper end of one of said side stiles eitherside of a central position comprising said neutral position to effectdrive of said rolls in opposite directions, said lever having upwardlyprojecting surfaces disposed symmetrically on opposite sides of saidaxis, a releasable top bar for applying pressure to said rolls, meansfor releasing said top bar from pressure applying position, and meansresponsive to the release of said top bar to actuate said lever to movesaid clutch mechanism to said neutral position, said latter meanscomprising a pivotal spring biased member movable above said lever andin a direction substantially perpendicularto said lever axis to engageone or other of said projecting surfaces with said lever swung to oneside of said neutral position to return said lever to said neutralposition, and lever means 4adapted to be directly engaged by theunderside of and actuated by said top bar to clear said pivotal springbiased member from engagement with said surfaces with. said top barmoved to said roll pressure applying position.

6. In a wringer having side stiles, rolls mounted in said `side Stiles,`a drive for said rolls including oppositely rotating drive members, aclutch mechanism interposed between said drive and said rolls andoperable from a neutral position in which said drive is uncoupled fromsaid rolls to positions coupling said rolls to one or other of saidoppositely rotating drive members, a lever for actuating said clutchmechanism comprising a horizontal member pivotally supported to swingabout a vertical axis at the upper end of one of said side stiles toeither side of a central position comprising said neutral position toeffect drive of said rolls in opposite directions, said lever havingupwardly projecting surfaces disposed symmetrically on opposite sides ofsaid axis, a releasable Itop bar for applying pressure to said rolls,means for releasing said top bar from pressure applying position, andmeans responsive to the release of said -top bar to actuate said leverto move said clutch mechanism to said neutral position, said lattermeans comprising a spring biased member movable above said lever andsubstantially perpendicular to said lever axis to engage one or other ofsaid projecting surfaces with said lever swung to one side of saidneutral position to return said leverto said neutral position, and levermeans adapted to he actuated by movement of said top bar to said rollpressure applying position to clear said spring biased member fromengagement with said surfaces.

7. A device as claimed in claim 6 in which said last mentioned levermeans carries an adjustable member projecting therefrom and adjustabletowards and from said top bar to adjust lever movement on closure of thetop bar.

8. A device as claimed in claim 7 -in which said adjustable membercomprises an adjusting screw adjustable t0- wards and from said top barand means for locking said adjusting screw in adjusted position.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,202,778 Kaulman May 28, 1940 2,281,885 Little May 5, 1942 2,330,480Etten Sept. 28, 1943 2,590,494 Beuscher Mar. 25, 1952

